Kesshite Itte Shimau
By Kaycee Ronin
I wish I could say I own Inu-Yasha, but I can’t...Oh well. None of the characters included in the manga, graphic novel, and anime series belong to me either. ::SIGH:: Tis’ a sad, sad world we live in when a girl just can’t seem to get her hands on a dog demon. Enough with the rambling. On with the fic! Please read and review!!
* * * * *
Kagome sat down on her bed as she carefully placed the last of her belongings into a duffel bag. Her mind was still completely focused on what had happened in the other world.
~~ Inu-Yasha’s never acted like this before. ~~
She tied the top of the bag securely and walked to her dresser. She sighed softly as she remembered the sad look in his eyes and the strange tone in his voice, almost seeing the depressing image in her mirror above the dresser.
~~ That wasn’t like him at all. The Inu-Yasha I know definitely doesn’t act like that! What could be wrong with him? ~~
Kagome groaned in annoyance as she picked up a rubber band and tied her long hair into a ponytail.
~~ Something must be wrong with him…I just wish he’d tell me. I don’t really think I’d mind if he complained a little about some things instead of making me crazy by never knowing how he’s feeling or what he’s thinking. How can he always act so heartless? Really it’s driving me crazy! ~~
Suddenly Kagome swung her foot and harshly kicked the dresser. “There I go making myself mad again,” She said heatedly. “I’m starting to think this whole thing is bad for my health! Inu-Yasha isn’t even here to be mad at! Oooh, he makes me so…so…” She quickly stopped herself, hearing a soft knock at her door. “Come in,” She said, recomposing herself.
Mrs. Higurashi opened the door a crack and peeked inside. “Kagome, who are you talking to?” She asked with a concerned expression on her face. Her daughter most definitely didn’t have a normal life, but talking to herself was stranger than even she normally was.
“Um, no one!” Kagome replied quickly, blushing as she spun around to face her mother. “I was just, uh, trying to memorize something for speech class.”
“Oh,” Mrs. Higurashi smiled in relief. “It’s good to see that you’re trying to catch up on your schoolwork...” She eyed the duffle bag sitting on Kagome’s bed. “And that you’re taking time out from your...adventures to take your little brother and his friends camping.”
“It’s no problem,” Kagome said with a quick smile as she walked to her bed and picked up the bag. “I guess I need the break. Is Sota ready yet?”
A younger voice suddenly spoke up from behind Mrs. Higurashi. “Yeah, let’s go!” The dark haired boy cried excitedly. “Takuya-kun and Yuuta-kun are gonna meet us at the campsite.” Sota rushed past his mother into the room and grabbed his sister by the arm. “Let’s go! Let’s go!” He said again excitedly.
“Okay, okay,” Kagome smiled and allowed Sota to lead her out of the room and down the stairs. “Are you sure you have everything?” She asked the younger boy.
“Yup,” Sota replied cheerfully. “I got my sleeping bag and pillow and snacks and drinks and marshmallows and…” He quickly looked both ways cautiously and lowered his voice as he looked seriously at his sister. “And stuff that’ll keep the monsters away...”
“Monsters?” Kagome repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Sota, haven’t we been through this? You don’t have to worry about monsters.”
“You keep saying that,” Sota said slyly as he folded his arms and grinned up at his sister. “But you’re dating one!”
Kagome’s face turned bright red in embarrassment. “What...What did you just say?” She managed to choke out.
“Don’t worry though,” the boy laughed. “I like Inu-Yasha. He’s a funny monster.”
Again Kagome blushed at the mention of Inu-Yasha’s name. “I’m not...dating him Sota,” She said slowly, as if unsure herself whether she was or not. “We’re just friends.”
“I’ve heard people say that on TV,” Sota replied bluntly, making a disgusted face. “People always say that on the shows mom watches and then they end up doing gross kissy stuff.”
Kagome didn’t reply as she heard her mother’s footsteps coming down the stairs. She hoped she hadn’t heard Sota’s last few comments. Kagome could deal with a seven-year-old acting this way, but not her mother. God no.
“Would you two like a ride to the campground?” Mrs. Higurashi asked. “I have to go to the grocery store anyway, and the campground is on the way.”
“Yay!” Sota cried, pleased to accept any help that would allow him to reach his destination faster.
Kagome smiled, relived that her brother had changed the subject. She followed Sota and her mother out the door and to the small blue car parked next to the house. She passed the old shrine that held within it the Bone Eater’s Well and smiled. No matter how angry Inu-Yasha constantly made her, she still didn’t mind seeing him. With a final glance towards the well and a slight smile, she turned and headed towards her waiting family. She had nearly forgotten about how she was upset about the half demon’s strange behavior earlier. “See you tomorrow, Inu-Yasha,” She said before joining her mother and brother in the car.
// Must you go? //
~~ Gomen ne Inu-Yasha…I’ll be back. It’s not like you won’t be there waiting to scold me for something. ~~
* * * * *
There was something wrong with him. Nearly everyone had noticed it by now. Inu-Yasha definitely was not acting like his usual self. He seemed quiet, slow, and somehow more irritable than he normally was…if that was even possible. After nearly two full days of seeing the young half demon appearing to be so dazed and lost, Miroku, Shippo and Sango couldn’t take it anymore. Before it would cause anyone more annoyance or trouble than it already did, they were determined to find out exactly what was wrong.
Sango sighed with concern as she watched Inu-Yasha wandering alone down a path just outside the village. The half demon was walking along slowly and something about her pose was wrong, so different than his normal confident stance. “Inu-Yasha,” She murmured softly to herself. Perhaps he had told Kagome what was wrong...or perhaps a fight between the two of them was the cause.
The very moment the half demon the half demon was out of sight, Sango returned to the priestess Kaede’s hut and found both Miroku and Shippo inside.
“Hoshi-sama,” She began slowly, turning to Miroku with a very concerned look on her face. “I think Inu-Yasha is getting worse. Whatever it is bothering him is definitely not relenting in the least,” She folded her arms and looked at the dark haired monk seriously. “One of us has got to find out what’s wrong.”
Surprised by Sango’s sudden idea, it took Miroku a moment to agree. He looked up at her from where he sat on the floor. “Hai,” He began. “But you know how stubborn Inu-Yasha is. He won’t just tell us what’s wrong with him so easily.”
Before he could say another word, Sango had pulled Miroku to his feet. “That’s why you’re going to find out,” She said hastily. “You know him better than I do. And besides if he won’t tell you anything, you can always use the ancient male way of settling things.”
“Eh? What’s that?” The monk managed before Sango shoved him outside.
“Beat the crap out of him until he talks,” She replied bluntly.
Miroku sighed as he headed down a path towards Inu-Yasha’s forest and the dry well. “Easier said than done,” He murmured.
Miroku hadn’t had any trouble finding the half demon recently. Inu-Yasha was always somewhere near the Bone Eater’s Well, usually sitting in a tree where he could easily see it…and easily see Kagome when she returned. That was relatively normal he assumed.
He stopped once he reached the well and looked around at the surrounding trees. Everything was completely silent save for the chirping of a few birds. After walking a few steps toward the nearby giant Goshinboku Tree an unfamiliar sound interrupted the serenity of the forest. ~~ What kind of noise was that? ~~ Miroku asked himself. If he hadn’t known better, he would have sworn it was something along the lines of a whimper. He stopped in his tracks and looked around again.
“Inu-Yasha?”
There was a long pause, and Miroku heard the same sound again. Something or somebody was in pain. He looked up into the Goshinboku Tree and prodded some of the lower branches with his staff. There were too many leaves blocking the view for him to know if the half demon was present.
“Inu-Yasha, are you up there?” Miroku called, his voice concerned.
Another pause was abruptly followed by a quick, annoyed “Yes…What do you want?”
“What are you doing?”
“What does it matter to you? Bakaro…”
Miroku sighed and leaned against the tree. His dark brown eyes rose upward and he smirked slightly at the branches. “Everyone has noticed that you’re not acting quite like yourself Inu-Yasha. Have you and Kagome-sama had another fight?”
“Why…Why would you assume that?” The half demon’s voice struck back angrily.
“I’m not assuming anything yet. I’m only asking.”
“Asking if she’s free you mean.”
“Why must you always assume what I mean?” Miroku sighed and looked up to the branches again. “I’m merely concerned about you. As I said I’m not the only one who’s noticed that you have been acting strange lately.”
“I’m fine,” Came the curt reply.
“Inu-Yasha, you haven’t been acting like yourself recently. I know something is wrong with you and I won’t leave until I find out what it is.”
“I told you I…I’m fine,” Inu-Yasha said quickly. His chest was beginning to tighten with pain. ~~ Not now, ~~ The half demon thought as he felt pain rising within his body. ~~ I don’t want this to happen now! ~~
“Come down here,” Miroku ordered, sounding concerned as he noticed something about the half demon’s tone didn’t sound right.
There was no reply, but the branches and leaves above rustled as Inu-Yasha’s weight shifted. After a few minutes, a pair of bare feet dangled from above, followed by the lower part of a red hakama and finally the rest of the young half demon. His landing was rather ungraceful; he almost didn’t even catch himself on his feet. That confirmed it for Miroku. It was no emotional problem about Kagome. Something was physically wrong with him. Just to be sure he stepped forward and came eye-to-eye with Inu-Yasha.
“What is going on with you Inu-Yasha?” Miroku demanded as he grabbed the half demon’s sleeve. “You have been acting strangely for days now. Everyone in the village has noticed it. If you and Kagome have had a fight, I’m sure you would feel much better if you’d just talk about it.”
“That…that isn’t it,” Inu-Yasha choked out painfully. “I-it isn’t Kagome…” Before he could get another word in, a sharp pain speared through his chest and he sagged to his knees.
“Inu-Yasha?” Miroku gaped in concern as he heard the half demon cry out in pain. He placed one hand on the shaking figure’s shoulder and knelt beside him. He quickly withdrew it, feeling too much heat coming from the body. ~~ He’s sick! ~~ Miroku realized. ~~ We should have noticed! ~~ “Inu-Yasha!” He shouted, trying to get the hanyou’s attention away from the immense pain he was in.
Inu-Yasha barely heard Miroku’s voice over the coughing fit that overcame him. ~~ It’s never...never been like this... ~~ He reasoned weakly. He could barely manage to pull his head together long enough to come up with that single thought. The pain shooting through his body wouldn’t alleviate in the least. He tried to cry out but his voice refused to work.
“Inu-Yasha!” Miroku shouted, his tone nearly panicked.
~~ Why did you have to leave? Kagome…What if I never see you again? ~~
“I’m taking you back to Lady Kaede’s village,” Inu-Yasha though he heard the monk say.
Inu-Yasha only vaguely nodded in response as he felt consciousness drifting away from him. The pain finally began to subside as he closed his eyes and let the threatening blackness take over.
~~ Kagome…Where are you? ~~
* * * * *
“Really?”
“Kagome-oneechan’s dating a monster?”
“Sota!”
“Yeah, her boyfriend is a demon!”
“Cool!”
“Sota,” Kagome rolled her eyes at the trio of laughing young boys and narrowed them angrily at her brother, sitting in between two other boys about his age. She hadn’t really been listening to the conversation until Sota brought up Inu-Yasha again. Just the mention of the half demon’s name was bothering her.
Sota turned his head to one side and looked at his sister in confusion, not knowing what he had done wrong. “What? What’s wrong Nee-chan?”
Kagome gestured for him to come closer and she sighed in annoyance as she did. “What did I tell you before about monsters and Inu-Yasha?” She hissed.
“Kagome,” Sota smiled innocently up at her. “It’s not like you can really hide it. You’re boyfriend has dog-ears.”
She instantly blushed and grabbed her brother by the arm. “We’re just friends Sota. Change the subject please.”
“Okay, okay,” Sota replied. “We’ll talk about something else.”
Kagome nodded in approval as she brushed a strand of her dark hair behind her shoulder and gazed up at the sky. ~~ Inu-Yasha…Sometimes I wish I could say we were more than we’re just friends… ~~
* * * * * * *
“Hold on Inu-Yasha,” Miroku gasped as he ran, staggering with the half demon on his back. “We’re almost back to the village.”
The monk’s words were only responded by a low moan but that was enough to assure Miroku that he would at least make it back to Kaede’s hut.
~~ You promised Kagome...you promised you’d come back. I want to see you again before it’s...too late. ~~
To Be Continued…
It’s been updated now! Ano…Sorry this took so long to finish. I hope no one hangs me for it. At least this one isn’t so much of a cliffhanger. If anyone wants to submit art for this fic, I would be more than grateful, considering my Inu-Yasha web page is in great need of art. Hopefully, the next part of this fic will come out in less time than four months. Anyways, I hope everyone enjoyed this part. ::Bows:: Ja ne!